RU2507712C2 - Method of transmitting alarm signal and mobile station - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: when transmitting an alarm signal for transmitting a first alarm signal and a second alarm signal which carries detailed information to a plurality of mobile stations in an LTE mobile communication system, each of the plurality of mobile stations verifies the received first alarm signal by comparing, using the processor of each of the plurality of mobile stations, first security information stored in each of the plurality of mobile stations with second security information included in the first alarm signal. Each of the plurality of mobile stations then generates an output corresponding to the first alarm signal if verification of the first alarm signal in each of the plurality of mobile stations has been successfully completed, wherein in the LTE mobile communication system, each of the plurality of mobile stations receives the first alarm signal through broadcast information.

EFFECT: enabling transmission of an alarm signal to multiple mobile stations through secure communication.

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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for a network node to transmit an alert signal to a plurality of mobile stations, and also relates to a mobile station using the method.

State of the art

The 3GPP 3G partnership project, as a component of the PWS (Public Warning System, Citizens Alert System), is exploring the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System (ETWS), an earthquake and tsunami warning system, designed to disseminate hazard information such as information earthquake or tsunami information. As shown in FIG. 7, the ETWS system includes a network node 1 (e.g., an eNB radio base station or equivalent), a hazard information distribution server 3, and a mobile station UE. As shown in FIG. 8, in ETWS in step S1001, the hazard information distribution server 3 transmits an “emergency notification” message (hazard information) to the network node 1 indicating that an emergency has occurred. In step S1002, the network node 1, using the “first alert” signal (first alert signal), notifies a plurality of mobile stations UE that an emergency has occurred. Having received the indicated “first alert” signal, each mobile station UE performs a corresponding output of the “first alert” signal (for example, emits a sound or other signal or displays information on the display). In step S1003, the network node 1, using the second alert signal (second alert signal), reports detailed information about the emergency to the plurality of mobile stations UE. It should be noted that each mobile station UE receives a “second alert” signal based on the information communicated by the aforementioned “first alert” signal, and displays detailed information communicated using said second alert signal.

Since this ETWS system carries a potential security risk, for example, when an improper base station transmits a false first alert (false first alert), the aforementioned first alert must be transmitted to the mobile station UE via secure communication. The ETWS system design shown in FIG. 7 assumes that an “emergency alert” is transmitted through an interface between a network node 1 and a hazard communication server 3 through secure communication using a dedicated line or IPsec protocols. However, there is a problem in that the “first alert” (first alert) cannot be transmitted through secure communication via the air interface between the network node 1 and the mobile station UE, since by the time of transmission of the “first alert” (first alert ) a secure radio channel is not established between the network node 1 and the mobile station UE. For this reason, the “first alert” (first alert signal) cannot be transmitted through secure communication via a radio interface between the radio base station eNB and the mobile station UE. In addition, even if a secure communication channel is established between the mobile station UE and the network node 1, for example, the base radio station eNB, the MME switch, or the gateway device S-GW, it is impossible to ensure security by using the security information defined by the network individually for each mobile station UE since each of the plurality of mobile stations of the UEs receiving the same “first alert” signal must determine whether the received “first alert” is sent to it.

Disclosure of invention

The present invention is made in view of the above problem. The aim of the present invention is the implementation of a method for transmitting a warning signal, providing the ability to transmit a warning signal to many mobile stations via secure communication, as well as the implementation of a mobile station using this method.

The first aspect of the present invention is presented as a method for transmitting an alert signal, by which a network node transmits an alert signal to a plurality of mobile stations, including checking at each of the plurality of mobile stations, a received first alert signal by comparing the first security information stored in each of the plurality of mobile stations, with second security information included in the first alert; and an output corresponding to the first alert signal executed by each of the plurality of mobile stations if the verification of the first alert signal in each of the plurality of mobile stations is completed successfully.

In a first aspect, the first alert signal includes a radio access technology identifier defining a radio access technology, and each of the plurality of mobile stations receives a second alert signal corresponding to a first alert signal using a radio access technology defined by a radio access technology identifier included in the first alert signal.

In a first aspect, each of the plurality of mobile stations determines whether to perform a check based on a verification need identifier indicative of a verification need.

In the first aspect, each of the plurality of mobile stations determines whether to check, depending on whether the first security information is stored.

In a first aspect, a network node transmits a plurality of first warning signals through one call channel, and each mobile station outputs for that first warning signal from a plurality of first warning signals, the verification of which has been completed successfully.

In a first aspect, the second security information included in the first alert is updated by a network node at predetermined times.

In a first aspect, the first security information stored by each mobile station is updated at predetermined times or in response to a notification from a network node.

In the first aspect, if the first alert signal includes a message identifier indicating the presence of a special message to be transmitted to each mobile station, then the second security information is included in the specified message identifier.

In a first aspect, the second security information is included in the area of the first alert signal indicating a reason for transmitting the first alert signal.

A second aspect of the present invention is presented as a mobile station used in a mobile communication system in which a network node transmits an alert to a plurality of mobile stations, the mobile station including a verification module configured to verify a received first alert by comparing the first security information stored in this mobile station, with second security information included in the first alert; and an output module, configured to perform output corresponding to the first warning signal, if the verification of the specified first warning signal is completed successfully:

In a second aspect, the first alert signal includes a radio access technology identifier defining radio access technology, and the mobile station includes a receiver configured to receive a second alert signal corresponding to the first alert signal using the radio access technology identified by the radio access technology identifier included in the first alert signal.

In a second aspect, the verification module determines whether or not to perform the verification based on the verification need identifier indicating that the verification is necessary.

In a second aspect, the verification module determines whether to verify, depending on whether the first security information is stored.

In a second aspect, when a host transmits a plurality of first warning signals through a call channel, an output module outputs for that first warning signal from a plurality of first warning signals, the verification of which is completed successfully.

In a second aspect, the first security information is updated at predetermined times or in response to a notification from a network node.

Brief Description of the Drawings

1 is a block diagram of a mobile station in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a “first alert” signal (first alert), which is transmitted by a network node in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a check performed by a mobile station in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a check performed by a mobile station in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation performed by a mobile station in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation performed by a mobile station in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a general configuration diagram of an ETWS system.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for transmitting hazard information in an ETWS system.

The implementation of the invention

The design of a mobile communication system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1-4, a description will be made of a mobile communication system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the ETWS system shown in FIG. 7, and the network node 1 is configured to transmit an alert signal (eg, hazard information) to a plurality of mobile stations UE. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a mobile communication system using any access scheme, for example, to an LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile communication system, to a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access, mobile communication system frequency division access), to the 3GPP2 mobile communication system, to the UMTS mobile communication system (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, and the GSM mobile communication system (Global System for Mobile Communications, global mobile communication system). If, for example, the present invention is used in an LTE mobile communication system, then the network node 1 is an eNB radio base station, and if the present invention is used in a W-CDMA mobile communication system, then the network node 1 is an RNC radio network control station.

As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile station UE according to this embodiment includes a first alert signal receiver 11, security information storage module 12, a verification module 13, an output module 14, and a second alert signal receiver 15.

The receiver 11 of the first alert signal is configured to receive a “first alert” signal (first alert signal) transmitted by the network node 1. For example, the receiver 11 of the first alert signal may be configured to receive a “first alert” (first alert signal) via a paging channel (PCH), or may be configured to receive a “first alert” (first alert signal) via broadcast information (e.g. SIB10 / SIB11).

As shown in FIG. 3, the “first alert” (first alert) includes an “IMSI” (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) generated by the “MCC” code (Mobile Country Code, Mobile Country Code) “MNC” code (Mobile Network Code, Mobile Network Code) and “MSIN” (Mobile Subscriber Identification Number). In essence, “IMSI” is the global identifier of the mobile station of the UE, but in addition, “IMSI” acts as a message identifier indicating the presence of a special message (eg, hazard information, such as, for example, earthquake information or tsunami information ) to be transmitted to each of the plurality of mobile stations UE. For example, in the identifier “IMSI” specified in the “first alert” signal (first alert signal) to indicate a hazard message and playing the role of a message identifier indicating the presence of hazard information, “901” is used as the “MCC” code, and “08” is used as the “MNC” code.

In addition, the MSIN number in the IMSI includes, for example, the “emergency type” field (two bits), the “Radio Access Technology Information (RAT)” field (two bits), the “frequency” field (14 bits), the field “Channel type” (one bit), “protection on / off bit” field (one bit), “protection bit” field (second protection information), etc., with values set in the indicated fields.

The “emergency type” field indicates the type of emergency, such as an earthquake, tsunami, or terrorist attack, and the “RAT information” field indicates the radio access technology (for example, GSM, UMTS, LTE, or 3GPP2) used for transmission "Second alert." The “frequency” field indicates the frequency used to transmit the “second alert”, and the “channel type” field indicates the type of channel (channel for CBS or channel for MSMS) used to transmit the “second alert”. The “on / off protection bit” field indicates whether or not the mobile station UE needs to check the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert), in other words, indicates whether the protection bit is set in the “first alert” (first alert) (second protection information). It should be noted that the “protection bit” (second protection information) contained in the “first alert” (first alert signal) can be updated by the network node 1 at predetermined times. In addition, a part (for example, “security bit” (second security information)) of the above information contained in the “MSIN” number in the “IMSI” identifier may be included in the “reason for calling” area of the “first alert” signal (first alert signal) indicating the reason for transmitting the “first alert” (first alert).

The security information storage module 12 is configured to store security information (first security information). Specifically, the security information storage unit 12 is configured to receive security information (first security information) from the network node 1 during processing performed by the mobile station UE during location registration (attach operation), during processing performed by the mobile station UE when updating location registration (TAU operations (Tracking Area Update), etc. It should be noted that the security information storage module 12 is configured to update the security information (first security information you) at predetermined points in time (for example, periodically) or in response to a notification from node 1 of the network.

Verification module 13 is configured to verify the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert signal) by comparing the security information (first security information) stored by the security information storage unit 12 with the “protection bit” (second security information) contained in the “first alert "(First alert) received by the receiver 11 of the first alert. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the verification module 13 may be configured to verify that the verification was successful when the security information (first security information) stored by the security information storage module 12 matches the “protection bit” (second security information) contained in the “first alert” (first alert). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the verification module 13 may be configured to determine if the verification was successful when the “security bit” (second security information) contained in the “first alert” (first alert signal) is in accordance with a security bit, obtained in the following way: protection information (first protection information) stored by the protection information storage unit 12, information that is not a protection bit, that is, different from the “protection bit” (second info mation protection) contained in the "first notification" (first notification signal) and a predetermined key (e.g., the previously dispatched fixed value).

Verification module 13 may establish whether the mobile station UE checks whether the “first alert” (first alert) is correct depending on the “enable / disable protection bit” (verification need identifier) contained in the “first alert” (first alert). Specifically, the verification module 13 can establish the need for the mobile station UE to verify the correctness of the “first warning” (first warning signal) only with the value “ON” in the “protection enable / disable bit” (verification need identifier) contained in the “first warning” (first alert signal).

Alternatively, the verification module 13 may establish the need for the mobile station UE to verify the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert), depending on whether the security information (first security information) is stored by the security information storage module 12. Specifically, the verification module 13 may establish the need for the mobile station UE to verify the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert) only when the security information storage unit 12 stores the security information (first security information).

The output module 14 is configured to output (for example, with the possibility of delivering an audible or other alarm signal or display) as follows when a host transmits a plurality of “first alerts” (first alerts) through one call channel. In particular, from the plurality of “first alerts” (first alerts), the output module 14 makes an output corresponding to that “first alert” (first alerts) from the plurality of “first alerts” (first alerts), for which the test is completed successfully. In addition, the output module 14 is configured to display detailed information (a “second alert” (second alert) corresponding to this “first alert” (first alert)) from the hazard information received by the receiver 15 of the second alert. The specified detailed information (second warning signals) can be, for example, information announcing the seismic intensity of the earthquake, the place of refuge, the time and place of distribution of food products, etc., presented both in the form of text data of a small volume, and in the form significant amount of data.

The receiver 15 of the second alert signal is configured to receive the aforementioned detailed information (second alert signal) if the above verification is completed successfully, the detailed information being received based on the information reported by the aforementioned “first alert” (first alert signal). For example, the receiver 15 of the second warning signal can, upon successful completion of the test, receive detailed information (second warning signal) through the channel determined by the information “channel type”, “frequency”, etc., contained in the above-mentioned “first warning” (signal call). Alternatively, the second alert signal receiver 15 may, upon successful verification, receive detailed information (second alert) using radio access technology (eg, LTE scheme) defined by “RAT information” (radio access technology identifier) contained in the aforementioned “first Alert ”(the first alert). As another option, the second alert signal receiver 15 may, upon successful verification, receive detailed information (second alert signal) simultaneously with the aforementioned “first alert” (first alert signal).

Operations of a mobile communication system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, operations of the mobile station UE in the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention are described.

In the first operation in step S101, the mobile station UE receives a “first alert” (first alert) from the network node 1, as shown in FIG. 5. For example, in an LTE mobile communication system, if the “ETWS indication” information in the call signal received via the PCH channel is set to “true”, the mobile station UE may receive a “first alert” (first alert signal), included as “ETWS information »To broadcast information (SIB10 / SIB11). In a WCDMA mobile communication system, a mobile station UE may receive a “first alert” (first alert) included in a call signal through a PCH channel.

In step S102, the mobile station UE determines whether the “enable / disable protection bit” (verification need identifier) contained in the received “first alert” (first alert signal) is in the “ON” state. Here, the mobile station UE may determine whether security information is present or missing in the “first alert” (first alert signal) of the received broadcast information (SIB10 / SIB11). If the “protection enable / disable bit” is in the “ON” state (or protection information is present), then the process proceeds to step S103, and if the “protection enable / disable bit” is in the “OFF” state (or there is no protection information), then the process advances to step S104.

In step S103, the mobile station UE checks the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert) using the “protection bit (second security information)” contained in the “first alert” (first alert and call signal) and “security information” (first security information) stored by the mobile station UE itself. If the verification succeeds, the process advances to step S104, and if the verification fails, the process advances to step S107.

In step S104, the mobile station UE makes an output (for example, displaying a flashing hazard message, etc.) corresponding to the “first warning” (first warning signal).

In step S105, the mobile station UE receives a “second alert” (second alert) corresponding to a “first alert” (first alert), and in step S106 displays detailed information reported by a “second alert” (second alert).

In step S107, the mobile station UE makes an output corresponding to the failure of the verification performed in step S103.

In the second operation in step S202, as shown in FIG. 6, the mobile station UE determines whether the “security information” (first security information) is stored. If it is determined that the “security information” (first security information) is stored, then the process proceeds to step S203, and if it is determined that the “security information” (first security information) is not stored, the process proceeds to step S204. The operations performed in the remaining steps coincide with the operations in the steps of the first operation described above.

Operations and technical result of a mobile communication system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention

In the mobile communication system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the mobile station UE is configured to verify the correctness of the “first alert” (first alert signal) based on the “security bit (second security information)” contained in the “first alert” (first signal alerts), and “protection information” (first protection information) stored by the mobile station UE itself, which, accordingly, allows the transmission of the first alert signal through secure communication. In addition, in the mobile communication system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the mobile station UE is able to output hazard information shortly after the formation of the specified information, since the “protection bit” (second protection information) is transmitted in the “first alert” (first alert signal). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the mobile station UE can output hazard information about four seconds after transmitting the “first alert” (first alert).

It should be noted that the operations of the above-described mobile station UE and network node 1 can be implemented by hardware, a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of these methods. The specified software module can be located on any type of storage medium, for example, random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM, Read Only Memory), or erasable read-only memory (EPROM, Erasable Programmable ROM), on an electrically programmable erasable read-only memory (EEPROM, Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM), in a register, on a hard disk, on a removable disk, or on a compact disc (CD-ROM). The storage medium is connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be integrated into the processor or, together with the processor, is made as part of a specialized integrated circuit (ASIC), which can be provided in the mobile station UE and in the radio base station eNB. In addition, the storage medium and the processor may be provided as separate elements in the mobile station UE and in the radio base station eNB.

Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention cannot be limited by the embodiment described herein. The present invention can be implemented in modified or modified form without going beyond the essence and scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Thus, the entire description of the present invention is illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way.

The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-040735 (filing date February 22, 2008) is incorporated herein by reference.

Industrial applicability

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, it becomes possible to implement a method for transmitting a warning signal, providing the possibility of transmitting a warning signal to a plurality of mobile stations via secure communication, as well as implementing a mobile station using this method.

Claims (3)

1. A method for transmitting an alert signal for transmitting a first alert signal and a second alert signal that reports detailed information to a plurality of mobile stations in an LTE mobile communication system, comprising the steps of:
checking in each of the plurality of mobile stations the correctness of the received first warning signal by comparing with the processor of each of the plurality of mobile stations the first security information stored in each of the plurality of mobile stations with the second security information included in the first warning signal; and
in each of the plurality of mobile stations, an output corresponding to the first warning signal is made if the correctness of the first warning signal in each of the plurality of mobile stations is completed successfully, moreover, in the LTE mobile communication system, each of the plurality of mobile stations receives the first warning signal through broadcast information. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the network node of the LTE mobile communication system updates the second security information included in the first warning signal at predetermined times. 3. A mobile station used in a mobile communication system configured to transmit a first warning signal and a second warning signal that reports detailed information to a plurality of mobile stations in an LTE mobile communication system including a receiver configured to receive the first and second warning signals ; a verification module, configured to verify the correctness of the received first warning signal by comparing the first security information stored in the mobile station with the second security information included in the first warning signal; and an output module (14), configured to output corresponding to the first warning signal, if the correctness of the specified first warning signal is completed successfully, moreover, in the LTE mobile communication system, said receiver is configured to receive the first warning signal via broadcast information.

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